Ear-ring



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES P. PIKE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

EAR-RING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 411,509, dated September 24, 1889.

I Application filed March 3, 1889. Serial No. 302,415. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES P. PIKE, of

Boston, Suffolk county, Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ear-Rings, of which the following is a specification. The object of my invention is to provide an ear-ring in which the jewel-setting will be held close up alongside the lobe of the ear, in connection with a hinged arm, preferably a spring-arm,which opens to permit the ready insertion of the ear-ring into the ear, and when closed is held securely by an improved catch, which is so constructed as to be easily opened for the removal of the earring.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a side elevation; Fig. 2, a sectional view of the ear-ring with the catch closed, and Fig. 3 a similar view with the catch open.

The jewel-setting A is provided at the top with a fixed but elastic or spring ear-loop a, which is preferably shaped or curved, as shown, so as to extend but slightly back of the rear face of the setting. At the bottom of the setting is a rearwardly-projecting angular lug at. Its bottom and end faces are flat and about at right angles to each other, while its top inclines slightly downward toward the setting. The curved spring-arm B is hollow, its back and sides being preferably formed in one piece, and it is pivoted on the lug a, as shown. A small plate-spring c is secured Within the hollow arm, and its free end bears upon the top and end faces of the lug, according as the arm is closed up or thrown back. The front cl of the hollow arm is by preference in manufacture made separate from the back and sides, and is afterward secured in place. At its upper end it is formed with a flaring bell or trumpet mouth e, which is in proper position to receive the end of the ear-loop a. The inner wall of the trumpet-mouth,against which the end of the ear-loop works, or along which it passes, is curved to a horizontal line 6 at the bottom, where there is formed an abrupt shoulder or catch 6 The trumpet-mouth opening, as will be observed, extends down and communicates with the interior of the hollow spring-arm. In closing the ear-ring the end of the ear-loop first strikes against the outer lip of the trumpet-mouth, springing past it and striking 011 the bottom of its curved wall at 6, thus forming one catch. Then by pressing it still further it snaps past the shoulder or catch 6 and firmly holds the ear-ring by a second catch. The curved or lever end or extension I) of the hollow arm B affords a convenient means for applying the necessary strain to readily open the catch when it is desired to remove the ear-ring from the ear. It will be noticed that the arm B is held closed both by the force of its spring cand also by the positive catch described, and even if the interior or second catch becomes open the ear-loop is still retained by the lips of the trumpet or bell mouth. The ear-ring is therefore securely locked, and with the construction described the jewel-setting rests against the lobe of the ear.

I prefer to construct the ear-ring with a double catch, as herein described, but if arranged so that the lip of the bell-mouth or trumpet and end of the ear-loop do not form a snap-catch, as above described, then the end of the ear-loop merely strikes or abuts against the inner wall or face of the trumpet-mouth which is held against it by the spring-arm, and as the two are further pressed together or toward each. other the walls of the trumpet-mouth guide the end of the ear-loop to the shoulder or catch 6 past which it snaps or springs to form a secure catch independent of the force of the spring in the spring-arm.

Iclaim as my invention 1. The combination, substantially as set forth, of the ear-loop, the hinged arm, the trumpet-mouth with the lip of which the end of the ear-loop first engages or past which it snaps to form a catch, and the second catch within the trumpet-mouth with which the end of the ear-loop finally engages, as described.

2. The combination of the setting, the elastic or spring eanloop, the hinged spring-arm, the trumpet-mouth on the hinged arm, against the inner face or wall of which the end of the ear loop abuts when the two are brought together, and a catch within the interior of the trumpet mouth to which the end of the earloop is directed by the walls of the trumpetmouth when the loop and spring-arm are further pressed together, and with which the end of the spriugear-loop engages, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination,with the setting and ear- 5 loop, of the hinged arm having; the trumpetmouth thereon, the interior of the trumpet being formed with a curved or horizontal portion 6, against which the end of the earloop abuts when the two are brought together, 10 and a shoulder 6 to which the end of the earloop is directed as the loop and arm are further pressed together and with which the end of the ear-100p engages by snapping past it, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto sub- I 5 scribed my name.

CHARLES P. PIKE. WVitnesses:

EDWARD O. DAVIDSON, MAY CARR-GULICK. 

